notjustaface | Alone Time

Alone time is rare at best, and as he clutches the co-pilot's seat of the salvaged Cessna - only a little nervous each time Murdock tries a trick - the fact that they're getting almost a whole day to themselves is more or less the best thing on his mind. They're on a job, of course - they're coming more frequently over the last few months and while the pay seems to be lower at least it's keeping them moving since their close call back in Chicago - but he'll take what he can get.

Even if what he can get is spending the night together in a lean-to in the backwoods of southern Oregon with a few sleeping bags and a cooler while they wait for the boss' call to pick up the other half of the team in northern California. It's still nice to have a little downtime.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

notthatcrazy

It feels good to be back in the air, even as he keeps to relatively tame (by his standards) maneuvers. Time alone together is rare enough that he's content not to push the limits of the small plane's capabilities. Though he's confident that his co-pilot's got his back.

From:

notjustaface

Got his back in the sense that if the plane starts going down he'll at least try to put to use some of the extremely basic training he's picked up over the years before screaming 'We're gonna die!'.

"It's nice to see you flying again," he smiles somewhat nervously when the pilot banks an unnecessary sharp circle. "You look happy."

From:

notthatcrazy

"Feels pretty good."

The nice thing about flying is that there's so many details to keep track of that his mind doesn't settle on any one thing for too long.

"Should be ready to land in about twenty minutes."

From:

notjustaface

"No rush..." Face forces himself to be comfortable - leaning back against the firm seat despite his hand still firmly clenched around the cushion.

"We've got all day."

From:

notthatcrazy

"Yeah, I know."

He does a few more loops and banks as the tiny airstrip appears on the horizon. As much as loves flying, he's looking forward to their time on the ground almost as much.

From:

notjustaface

The out of commission airfield is the best they can really hope for given their circumstances, but it's safe and the chances of getting caught there are as slim as they come with landing in the US. Still, he's pleased to see it's tucked into a canyon where once the plane is stowed in the hangar they'll be mostly invisible and hear anyone coming for miles by land or air.

"Some day you're gonna have to teach me how to fly one of these things."

Some day, hopefully after they can do so legally.

From:

notthatcrazy

That would be nice, even if it does feel like a pipe dream right now.

"You think you could handle it?" He grins.

From:

notjustaface

Eyeing the controls, and then Murdock, he flashes a sedate grin and answers; "I've been told I know my way around a stick."

Teasing aside, it can't be that much harder than driving a tank.

From:

notthatcrazy

He probably could pick it up, given enough time and a certain flyboy's expertise, of course.

"Do you hafta turn everything into an innuendo?"

Yes. Yes he does.

From:

notjustaface

He takes a second to consider the question without a hint of seriousness, then nods slowly. "I'm pretty sure I'm contractually obligated to make at least one innuendo a day."

At least.

From:

notthatcrazy

He shakes his head, still smiling.

"Hope you read the fine print on that contract, it sounds a little sketchy to me."

From:

notjustaface

Laughing, Face shakes his head to glance out the side at the thickening trees around them. He doesn't doubt Murdock's ability to land in a heavily wooded area - they've had some sketchy landings over the years... and crashes - but there's always something a bit unnerving about them.

"Well, I didn't have the best negotiator... I mean, our day off is gonna be spent in the woods and not a Hilton."

From:

notthatcrazy

He's fairly steady as he guides the Cessna in for a landing. They can apologize to the woodland creatures later.

"What happened to those famous powers of persuasion, huh?"

From:

notjustaface

"Mmm, I learned very quickly that Hannibal's mostly immune to them." And that's so true it hurts, he couldn't pull one over on the old man if he tried - and from time to time he did.

Both hands find the edges of the seat, digging his short nails in the faster they descend.

From:

notthatcrazy

"Guess someone has to be."

The A-Team: Forever giving each other crap whenever necessary.

"Please make sure your tray tables are in their upright and locked positions, we are clear for landing."

From:

notjustaface

He's one of the very, very few.

"I really... really don't like how close those trees are. I know this place is abandoned and everything... but could they possibly make it any more dangerous to try and not crash?"

From:

notthatcrazy

"I think the whole point of it bein' abandoned is they don't want anyone landing here at all."

Not that that's ever stopped them before.

From:

notjustaface

Swallowing back a small knot of fear - always eager to appear fearless in the face of a nervous landing - Face watches in silence as Murdock easily brings the small plane down, letting it taxi until they're almost nose to door with the locked down hangar.

"I'll open it up - you bring her in."

As he stumbles out of the cockpit, he tries his best not to make it look like he's relieved to be out of the air (for Murdock's sake rather than his own) and then cuts the bolt before forcing open the rusted doors. It's pretty much the last place anyone would come looking for a plane, dusty and cobwebbed and more or less not a pretty sight.

From:

notthatcrazy

He's used to that look enough to not take it personally .

"See, I told ya."

Shaking his head at the condition of the hangar, he gives the plane's fuselage an affectionate pat as he exits. "Stay here and be good."

From:

notjustaface

The dropzone itself isn't really much to look at, the rust old hangar and what vaguely passes for a landing strip cut in the middle of the trees are paired with a small building that looks vaguely like a lean-to doing it's best impression of a shack.

"I've got to work on getting better accommodations on these trips," he mutters to himself, shifting his heavy rucksack into a more comfortable position across his shoulders. If it looks any worse on the inside they'll be better off sleeping outside.

From:

notthatcrazy

"Ah, it won't be so bad. We should get a good view of the stars when it gets dark."

He grabs the small cooler with their night's provisions and whistles. "Hey Billy, c'mon boy."

From:

notjustaface

He rolls his eyes, subtly, at the sharp whistle. Billy. Billy, the dog that he's not entirely sure that Murdock even believes in but will go out of his way to make real enough on the off chance he really does see something there.

"Dog's sleeping on your half of the sleeping bag." He mutters, hiking across the overgrowth toward the shelter.

From:

notthatcrazy

"Fair enough," he shrugs, as dust rises and twigs snap under their feet. The place really is kind of a dump, but at least there's good company.

From:

notjustaface

And at least it's quiet, and cool with no sign of rain in the near future. Small blessings.

"I saw a stream on the way in, a few miles from here. If you want to, we can hike over and check it out?"